Carving fork



B. M. MILLER CARVING FORK Nov. 8, 1949 Filed March 25, 1947 Patented Nov. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE I cARvlNG FORK l Bernard M. Miller, Shelield, England Application Maren z5, 1947; vserial No. 736,937 siciaims. (c1. 304323) This invention relates to carving forks, and particularly to"`forks' having a 'removable guard memberof the'category vdescribed in my prior Patent No. 2,354,766 of August 1, 194A.Vr

"Itis commonlyknown 'that carvingforks provided with guards, both pivotal `and xed, have the ldisadvantage that `food andl` grease tend to accumulate on theguard' and` adjacent portions of the fork'member'; and that it is generally diicult to clean these members because of obstructing elementsand inaccessibility of soiled parts; To eliminate this shortcoming, I vhave invented al carvingfork with a removable guard, in accordancewithr the above-mentioned patent. In' this construction, a spring-loaded-'spindle was used to which a'guard was pivotally `attached-the guard :being released by' applying/pressure to the spindle against the' action of the spring. Although this device attained'considerable commercial success, there was nevertheless' a shortcoming in that the spindle would itself become detached and occasionally lost. V-Furthermore, inthe assembly operation `by a user, the-proper position of the spindle could not always be determined, inasmuch as it was rotatable within therecess adapted to accommodate it. Y

It is primarily within thecontemplation of my invention to provide a'structure capable of overcoming the aforesaid shortcomings of a carving forkgwitha removable guard, and particularly Athe disadvantages noted'with respectto'mysaid patented structureev More jspecically, it is an importantobject of my `invention to provide a combination of-iorl ,v removable guard andretainer means= which would enable-thefdevice to function more efiicientlythan' any known device of the said category, andin which the only removable partis theguard. And in-the attainment ofthis` objective, Iprovide a guard retainer-including va spindlewhich after assembly. is permanently locked within the body ofthe fork, yet which will yieldably, releasablyy and pivotally engage the guard,A and in which the spindle will be held against rotation. e 3

It is another object ofr this invention lto enable a longer spring tolbe employed, whereby the device can be operated more effectively and more conveniently than any similary device vheretofore made. And in this aspect of my invention itis also. an object to enable the guard to be yieldably and 'rmly maintained in both of its two eXtreme positions, and further to enable the guard retainer member to be yieldably and rmly maintained in its variousoperative positions, from the :fully retracted to the maximum projected posi a'maximum sealing eiect at the recesses. containing the retainer, so as" to prevent a clogging of suclrrecesses with food vor other foreign matter. "And it is withinthe contemplation of my in-` vention to provide a simply fabricated and readily assembled device capable f performing'all the obj'ectives h'ereinabovementioned. VOther objects, features ,and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given. o "Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the fork containing my invention, afragment of the handle being shown; y Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1, showing in full lines the operative position of the guard, and in dot-dash lines the inoperative position thereof; 'Figure 3 is a somewhat enlarged elevation, partly in'section, of the device of Figure'Z, show; ing the relation of the retainer and guard memeIv ber when in its operative position; 7, Figure 4 is a view like Figure 3 but with the guard in its inoperative position; y

Figure y5 is a figure substantially like -Figures@ and 4, but with the guard member removed and with the retainer in its maximum retracted posi,- tion; Y

Figure 6 is a section of Figure 5taken along line 6 6; and Figure 7 isa perspective View member with the spring removed. I y i I n the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated, Lthe fork member I0 contains a body portion I I through which transversely extend the two co-axial inter-communicating recesses I 2 and I 3, the former being of greater diameterthan latter and of predetermined relative proportions, the Ajuncture of said rrecesses forming an inner shoulder I4. Extending diametrically across the axis of said co-axial recesses, substantially at lsaid shoulder I4, is thelocking pin 24, supported by said body member. o "n The guard retainer I5 consists of a spindletll comprising at the distal end a hooked lip I'I, an enlarged cylindrical head I8 at the opposite end, a cylindrical portion I9 adjacent the head, and anfintermediate reduced portion 20, th upper surface 2| thereof adjacent the lip being flat. A p art'fof the retainer is the cylindrical fcasing '22 open at the inner end and closed at the outer end 2.3, ,Said casing is disposed lover' thehead end'y of of the retainer the spindle, it being preferred that said head I8 be slidably disposed within the casing and abutting the end wall 23 thereof. The casing is so proportioned that there is a space between the inner wall thereof and the said cylindrical portion I9 of the spindle, said space being suicient to accommodate the helical spring 25. Said spring is illustrated as enveloping the spindle, one end being in abutment with the head I8, and the other end with the shoulder I4.' In the position illustrated in Figure 5, with the guard detached, the lip I'I engages the pin 24 so that the pin is disposed over the at surface 2| and between lip Il and cylindrical portion IS. The spring is so proportioned that in this position the retainer member I is in its fully retractedfpo'sition; with the lip I'I disposed within the recess I3,`and with the casing I5 in its most outwardly protruding position.

As will be observed from Figure 5, the pin 24 locks the retainer inV place within* the :said recesses, so that it cannot become detached. The proportions oi the parts are such that when the retainer is in its fully retracted position, the innermost portion 2S of the casing is still in engagement with the inner wall of recess I2; and While the parts are in'this position; the upper and lower portions `of the hooked lip are in slidable engagement with'the'inner wall of recess i3. It is thus evident that the retainer member I5 is supported in this extreme position by the walls of recesses IZand |35 vthat is,'the retainer is"` slid'ably` supported at two spaced portions thereof, thereby preventing it from -being axially displaced, and accordingly 'provided' with substantial bearing surfaces;vv A4And asitwillhereinafter more vclearly appear, when thesaid retainer I5 is in any of its other operative positions, itis also supported atsuch spaced-portions thereof by the walls 'of both recesses.

It will further be"ob'served that in' the various operative positions ofithe retainer; as shown in Figures '3,' ll'aiid the locking pin 2li/is always infierigagement witli'the flat surface 2| of` the intermediate portionl offthe'spindlef. The'arrangementi is hen'be''such4 vthat"the' spindle is held against rotation b'yth`e`pi'n- 24;"thereby always as's'ring-tli'eproperfpositiningf the hooked lip IIl with `r'e'spec`t ut'the pivot pin of'th guard to bihereinafter described) -`*Ilrle'res therefore no need to adjustably rotate the retainer, as' has been4 the Icase with 'the spindle arrangement described in my aforesaid patent. 5 Theguafr'd irieir'ib'er 521 -isl'sub's'tantially like lthat of the correspondingpa'rt of my-p'reviously patente'd invention, thisrnembr containing a pivot pin 28 adapted to` berece'ive'dandengaged by the `ll ooked` lip II'. "i The varrangement is such that said lip is inlirotatable 'engagement with the pivotpin 2|),l permitting the guard to be rotatably actuatedfb'etwee'n its' inoperative-position as *shown n'fF'i'gure' 4 yand its operative'positions shoW'ninfFigures -2` and 3. Inboth oi these positions,"l 4and` iriall 'positions lthereb'etilveen, vthe guard' is yiel'dably maintained irfplace' due to the action of the vspring 25. It will beob's'erved that both'pin's 24and 28 are in'parallel relation, so that the lip *I1-'is adapted `to operatively engage either of 'these' pins. It'will be further observed that the -i'etainer member is lin aninwa'rdly proje'cted position when the guard is Iin its' operative position (Figure 3) ,"that'it is in an intermediate 'positionjwhen the 'guard -is inoperative (Figure 4)"and that it is in its'fully retracted position when' thegu'ard member has lbeen detached, as

previously indicated (Figure 5). And in all of these positions, the spring 25 is under compression, thereby rmly and yieldably holding the coacting members in place.

To assemble the guard 2T upon the fork member, the retainer member I5 is pushed inwardly by the thumb, against the action of the spring, to the maximum projected position shown by dot-dash lines in Figure 3. Ini this position, the guard mounted upon" the' retainer, fthe pivot pin 28 being "positioned"wlthin the :hooked lip I1. Thereafter, the manual pressure upon the retainer is released, whereupon the retainer is --'orced' outwardly by the spring, thereby yieldably urging the pivot pin 28 and the guard in- "wardly"until"stopped by the body of the fork 1 member.

Ih the fabrication' of this device, speeineeily i inftheia'ssembling of the retainer upon the fork member, the retainer is positioned Within the recesses" V(unobstructed asyet by the-pin24) and mechanically-held in'the maximum projected position;`Y Thereuponfthe 'piri 24 is driveninto previously drilled holes:Al After' this operation, the retainer 'is"rele'ased, whereupon it positions itself as 'indicated inFigure 5.

It will benotedthatthe-recesses I2'and I3 arey eiectively Sealed' bytheretainer member and adjacent parts .toipr'event-the"inzltration of food or'other foreign-matter. i Inl the condition ofthe device shown 'in'FigureiQwherethe guard is lnot"atta`ched, the casing 22,"A Yslidably fitting withinfthe recess I'2,'=obviously seals'that recess; and the lip lI'I extending acros's'the entire diameter 'of'l recess |3serves as an--eiective`iseal for that recesslI In the' positions" yshown in' Figures 3"and 4; the lip |11 together with fthe underlying intermediate`pbrtieri ZUFandf-the voverlying wall off the? g'i'iar'dmemberfconstitute anieiective encumbrance to' theentra'nce of recess I3 to pro- Vide an 'e'ie'ctive and-satisfactory lseal.

" Iiifprvidingf'a fcasin'g 221I`havemade it possible to iinploye. spring of greater length than could be used in"4 my 'saidprioripatented structur'einasmuch' as"the springl not 'only extends through the length of recess I-2,-but alsoenters the *casingardextend 'tlifdugh a substantial portionfthereoff. 2'Thisnczreased length of spring permits a relatively long'stroke ofthe retainer, 'and'also results in a'rirmf'resilient holding togther Vof the"coacting members.

In the above Ades :'ri`ption','the invention has been disclosed" merely by'way of example and in preferred manner; but 'obviously'A many variations andfrnodiflcatiorsiinay be madetherein which'will still be'lcoin'p'rised within its spirit. It'isto be understoodjtherefore, that the invention n'ot limited to any'speci'c form or mann'r of practicing sarne,"e ic`cept in so far as such limitations are specified inthe'fappended claims.

AI- claim:

1. A carvingfork'comprising'a fork member having abody portion containing two co-axial intercommunicating recesses of different diameters .Xte'r'iciingl 'therethrough 'and with thehjunctureorming an innerJ shoulder, a transverse 'locking pinv extending" diametrically through the commoni'axis f the recesses in the region of `said shoulder, a spring-loaded-'guard retainer extending'within*said. recesses; "and Aa guard containing 'a transverse pivot' pin; said retainer "comprising-aspindle, ahelical spring anda cashead, and a reducedfintermediateportion containing a4 iiat surfacenadjacent the said lip, the lip being proportioned'"t' slidably@ thfiigh the smaller of said recesses;"`th" casting 'being mounted Menthe-head of'the vspindle and extending'partly into the larger of said recesses and in slidable engagementwith the interior wall thereof, the spring""b`eing mounted ovenl the spindle with one end against the said head, the other end abutting against the said shoulder, at least a portion of the spring being contained within the casing; the said spring being proportioned to normally urge the retainer into a fully retracted position; a portion of said casing being in engagement with the inner wall of the larger -of said recesses, a portion of the spindle being in engagement with the inner wall of the smaller of said recesses, and the said lip being in engagement with the said locking pin when the retainer is in said fully retracted position; the retainer being movable against the action of the spring to an inner operative position, the hooked lip of the spindle being engageable with the pivot pin of the guard at said inner operative position, both of said pins being parallel when the members are in said latter position.

2. A carving fork comprising a fork member having a recessed portion in the body thereof, a locking pin extending transversely through said recessed portion, a spring-loaded guard retainer slidably movable within the said recessed portion between a retracted and an inner operative position, said retainer containing at one end a lip, and a guard containing a transverse pivot pin thereon, the said lip being engageable with said locking pin when the retainer is in said retracted position and with said pivot pin when the retainer is in said operative position.

3. A carving fork comprising a fork member having a recessed portion in the body thereof, a locking pin extending transversely through said recessed portion, a spring-loaded guard retainer slidably movable within the said recessed portion between a retracted and an inner operative position, said retainer containing at one end a lip and adjacent thereto a portion with a flat surface, said surface being in underlying engagement with said locking pin, and a guard containing a transverse pivot pin thereon, the said lip being engageable with said locking pin when the retainer is in said retracted position and with said pivot pin when the retainer is in said operative position.

4. A carving fork according to claim 3, both of said pins being in parallel relation, whereby the lip will engage .both pins in similar manner.

5. A carving fork comprising a fork member having a recessed portion in the body thereof, a locking pin extending transversely through said recessed portion, a spring-loaded guard retainer slidably movable within the said recessed portion between a retracted and an inner operative position, said retainer containing at one end a lip and at the other end a casing, the retainer spring having a portion thereof disposed within the casing, and a guard containing a transverse pivot pin thereon, the said lip being engageable with said locking pin when the retainer is in said retracted position and with said pivot pin when the retainer is in said operative position.

6. A carving fork comprising a fork member having a recessed portion in the body thereof, a locking pin extending transversely through said recessed portion, a spring-loaded guard retainer slidably movable within the said recessed por- 'tioi ibtweia'a* retracted fand' ani i irner operative position', said retainer 'containing-fat one-l endlla llip Jand at the other end a casingjsaid-"ca'sing be# ing partially-disposedv 'and' slidably movablewith= in-isad-'lrecessed portion, the" retainer'springliavving 'apoition thereof disposed within thel'cas-` ing, and -a'gard containinga transverse' pivot Win thereon/thesaid 'lipl be'ing engageablewith isidlockirig liin when the retainen-is ins'a'idreff tfajc'tedpo'sitibnA and-with said lpivot-pin 'when the retainis iiis'aidoperative positionil. f- 1.; 7.A carving fork comprising a fork member having-axrecessdlportionlconsisting of two coaxial intercommunicating recesses of different proportions, a transverse locking pin extending through said recessed portion, a spring-loaded guard retainer extending within said recesses, and a guard containing a transverse pivot pin; said retainer comprising a spindle, a helical spring and a casing; the spindle containing a hooked lip at its distal end, an enlarged cylindrical head at the opposite end, a cylindrical portion adjacent the head, and a reduced intermediate portion containing a fiat surface adjacent the said lip, the lip being proportioned to move through the smaller of said recesses; said at surface being in underlying engagement with said locking pin; said casing being partially disposed and slidably movable within the larger of said recesses between a retracted and an inner operative position; the said lip being engageable with said locking pin when the retainer is in said retracted position and with said pivot pin when the retainer is in said operative position.

8. A carving fork comprising a fork member having a body portion containing two co-axial intercommunicating recesses of different diameters extending therethrough and with their juncture forming an inner shoulder, a transverse locking pin extending diametrically through the common axis of the recesses in the region of said shoulder, a spring-loaded guard retainer extending within said recesses, and a guard containing a transverse pivot pin; said retainer comprising a spindle, a helical spring and a casing; the spindle containing a hooked lip at its distal end, an enlarged cylindrical head at the opposite end, a cylindrical portion adjacent the head, and a reduced intermediate portion containing a flat surface adjacent the said lip, the lip being proportioned to slidably move through the smaller of said recesses; the spring being mounted over the spindle with one end against the said head, the other end abutting against the said shoulder, at least a portion of the spring being contained within the casing; said retainer being slidably movable between a retracted and an inner operative position, the said lip being engageable with said locking pin when the retainer is in said retracted position and with said pivot pin when the retainer is in said operative position.

9. A carving fork comprising a fork member having a recessed portion consisting of two coaxial intercommunicating recesses of diiferent proportions, a transverse locking pin extending through said recessed portion, a spring-loaded guard retainer extending within said recesses, and a guard containing a transverse pivot pin; said retainer comprising a spindle, a helical spring and a casing; the spindle containing a hooked lip at its distal end proportioned to slidably move through the smaller of said recesses; the said spring being proportioned to normally urge the retainer into a fully retracted position;

a. predeterminedY portion of ssiid casing-being in engagement with? the 'inner wall ofthe larger of said-recesses,aportion ofthe spindle being n engagementfwith' the inner Wall of the smaller of said -reoesses',l and the said lip -being in engagement-withthe said-locking pin when the retainerisfi-n -said iullyy retracted position;` the retainer bein-g movable' against the action of the spring to an=rmer operative position, the hooked lip of the spindle-being engageable with the pivot pin of the guard attdsalidv inner operative position.

.ff t" REFERENCES'GITED `The' folloiisrn'g` references' ai' v-of record 'in' the le of this`paitent:

'-1 UNITED STATESPA'I'ENTS Number Name Date 2,354,766 1"Mil1er Aug. 1, 1944 

